Storm!
You were made for stormy weather.
Don’t stare at the waves in unbelief, wondering how you got out of the sunny cove with blue skies above and not so much as a ripple in the water.
While you buck the heavy seas, cast fearful eyes heavenward into darkening skies and an uncertain conclusion to this chaos in your life –ask yourself some key questions:
Who permitted this storm? God allows and even sends storms into our lives. He sent the disciples into a storm (Matthew 14:22). He allowed Daniel to face lions (Daniel 6). He ‘permitted’ the three Hebrew men to be cast into a blazing furnace of fire (Daniel 3).
Remember, God never puts us in a situation that He’s unable to extricate us from. But He doesn’t keep us from storms because in them we are taught lessons… about his love, his power and his purpose. Don’t just look for help, learn a lesson.
“He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.
He rescued me from my strong enemy…” Psalm 18:16,17 ESV
The limits of the storm: We often have a say in how long the storm persists. Our first response should be to cry out for help: “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distresses.” Psalm 107:28 AMP He’s waiting for our faith to kick in: “He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”” Matthew 8:28 NIV
God determines the ferocity and length of any storm in our lives. No storm is unimportant to Him and He will not allow it to go a minute past the point where we’ve reached the purpose of his permission. In Isaiah 60, God reminds Israel of the storm they’ve been in and speaks to them about their rescue: “At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” Isaiah 60:22 NLT
The ceasing of the storm: This is the part we love – when the fighting is over, the clouds part and the stormy seas quiet. At this point we are weary of the battle, our resources are depleted, our lower lip may still be quivering… but the storm is no longer over and around us but behind us.
We say with the relieved disciples on the boat: “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” Matthew 8:27 ESV
What sort of man indeed! He’s our Rock and a safe fortress in which we hide until the storm passes by.
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